Racing game



Feb. 4, 1941. P. GARMS ETAL 2,230,563

RACING GAME Filed May 13, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Presfon. 5'. Millar BY eler (Farms P. \GARMS ETAL RACING GAME w E a. a t. aw E a 2 Pre sZo Pefer' Garm ATTORNEY.

Feb. 4,1941.

m wwwm P. GARMS ET'AL 63 RACING GAME Filed May 15, 1938 Feb. 4, 1941.

8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Presfon S. Mil/a1- BY Pefer Garms Ywi ATTORNEY.

Feb. 4, 1941. P. GARMS EIAL meme GAME Filed May 13, 1938 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS Z Z a r Gar/us Pres for; 9.

By a e fer Cur ATTORNEm P. GARMS ET AL RACING GAME a Shets-Sheet 6 Filed May 13, 1938 FI mm. L 7

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E DM 5 m5 am am i v Q\\ mm k fi mm 0. W khe Inn as o2 QQ mm 3 I 1 w x wmwhw? iw fi |$N Q INVENTORS Pres-ton S Millar Garms BY ER Feb. 4, 1941. P. GARMS ETAL RACING FEAME Filed May 15, 193

8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS Preston 5', M Jab P6719)" Gar if? ATTORZE.

Feb. 4, 1941.

P. GARMS ET AL RAcINg GAME Filed Ma 15, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 u'iii iiiM INVENT Millar Peter Gar s 1 N .Preston..5.

Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT QFICE RACING GAMIE Application May 13, 1938, Serial No. 207,706

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in racing games, its object being to simulate as closely as possible an actual race. Heretofore, games of this character have lacked realism because the contestants have not moved continuously from start to finish, and it has not been possible to vary their speed as in an actual race. In the game of this invention the contestants move continuously as in an actual race, and their speeds, which normally are identical, can be altered by the players to produce a winner.

The game is applicable to the racing of horses, yachts, dogs, bicycles, and the like. For the purposes of this application a form of game simulating a horse-race has been selected. This is illustrated in the drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a general view in perspective of the game;

Figure 2 is a plan view;

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section, taken along the line 33.of Figure 4, and in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the operating mechanism beneath the tracks;

Figure 5 is an elevation of part of the operating mechanism of Figure 4 taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and viewed as indicated by the arrows;

Figure 6 is a view of the same mechanism,

partly in section, on the line 6-6 of Figure 5 and viewed as indicated by the arrows;

Figure '7 is a diagrammatic illustration of a circuit arrangement through which the speedchanging mechanisms are operated;

Figure 8 is a similar diagrammatic illustration of a circuit through which the normal uniform speed of the horses is obtained;

Figure 9 is a side view of the mechanism, by means of which the players alter the speed of the horses;

Figure 10 is a view of another part of the same mechanism;

Figures 11-15, inclusive, are detailed views of 5 various parts of the mechanism of Figure 9;

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate a modified form for imparting uniform and different speeds to the horses;

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic illustration of an electric circuit for use with a modified form of mechanism shown in Figures 16 and 17; and

Figure 19 is a modified form of the controlling mechanism of Figure 9, which may be used with the mechanism of Figures 16 and 1'7.

As shown in Figure 1, the game consists of a low bench I, provided with adjustable legs 2, so that it can be leveled in case the floor or other supporting surface slopes or is uneven. Upon this platform'is a box-like housing 3, on the top of which is laid out the race-track 4, which is 6 preferably covered with green baize, or other suitable material to simulate as closely as possible the closely-clipped grass of a track. Realism may be carried to any desired extent through the addition of miniature accessories, 10 such as the starters stand 5, trees 6, fences I,

flag-pole 8.

In the form of game shown there are four horses, 9, IO, II, l2, cut or molded from any suitable light material, each of which is mounted upon a small base I 3, from the under side of which projects a pin or fin It. For each of the contesting horses, the track 4 is provided with a slot I5, through which pin I4 projects downwardly. By suitable mechanism connected to 20 pin I4, each of the horses can be moved along its slot I5 from the starting to the finish line.

These mechanisms are of such a nature that, normally, they will cause all the horses to move along the track at exactly the same speed, which, preferably, should be such that the race will be completed in about the same time as a real horse-race, say, three minutes. However, the speed of each horse can be retarded or accelerated, so that a horse may complete the race 39 in, say, two minutes, or take as much as four minutes. This alteration in the speed of each horse is brought about by the players and may be made a matter of chance or skill, or a combination of both. In the form being desc bed, this feature is a matter of chance. Although the speed may be varied as just indicated, each horse moves continuously and does not stop until the race is over. This feature adds greatly to 40 its realism and in this respect this game differs from other racing games.

The mechanism for imparting continuous motion to each horse is contained within the central part of the housing 3. Immediately below the slot I5, along which horse III moves, is positioned a belt I6, which passes over a pair of pulleys I1 and I8, respectively positioned beyond the respective ends of the slot. Pin I4 of horse 9, which, as already explained, projects through the slot, is attached to this belt. The ends of this belt are connected together by means of a small coil spring I9, which maintains sufficient tension to prevent the belt from slipping upon the pulleys during the operation of the mechanism, but permits it to slip if the horse is moved by hand.

The pulley !8 is attached to a shaft 20, which also carries another fiXed pulley 2!. Pulley 2! is connected by a belt 22 to another pulley 23 on a shaft 24.

Upon shaft 24 is loosely mounted a sleeve 25 (Fig. 5) provided with a longitudinal slot 25. A pin 21 projecting from shaft 24 rides in this slot so that, although sleeve 25 can slide to assume various positions upon the shaft 24. any rotation of sleeve 25 will be imparted to shaft 24. Upon sleeve 25 is mounted a friction wheel 23, the edge of which is adapted to engage withthe surface of friction disk 29 mounted upon the shaft Sta of a synchronous motor 39. This forms a frietion drive, by means of which belt !6, and, consequently, horse ll attached thereto, will be moved along the track more or less rapidly, depending upon the position of friction wheel 23 upon friction diskZQ. The nearer friction wheel 2!! is to the center of friction disk 29, the slower will the belt and horse 9 move. Motor 30 is connected, of course, to any suitable source of alternating current.

Synchronous motor 3!! may also supply the motive power for a similar driving mechanism for horse I2 consisting of friction wheel 3! upon sleeve 32, loosely mounted on a shaft 33, the sleeve being longitudinally slotted, as shown at 34, so that it can slide upon shaft 33, but is caused to rotate with shaft 33 through the agency of pin 35 riding in slot 34. A pulley 36 attached to shaft 33 and belt 3! transmits power to pulley 38, and shaft 39. This shaft is also provided with pulley 40 positioned beyond the end of the slot !5 in which horse !2 moves, and, with pulley 4! positioned beyond the other end of the same slot, carries belt 42 to which is attached horse l2 by means of its projecting pin !4. It will, therefore, be evident that since synchronous motor 30 provides the motive power for both horses Ill and !2, these horses will be moved at exactly the same speed if the friction wheels 28 and 3! of their respective driving mechanisms are positioned equi-distant from the center of friction disk 28.

Similar mechanisms for driving horses 9 and are also provided. If desired, these mechanisms may also derive their motive power from the synchronous motor 30 through friction disk 29, but in the form of the device shown it was considered more convenient to provide for them a second synchronous motor 44 identical with synchronous motor 30 connected to the same source of electricity. All of the other parts of the driving mechanisms for those two horses are identical with those already described; therefore, if the friction wheels of these driving mechanisms are positioned at equal distances from the center of the friction disk, and, if this distance also corresponds exactly to the positions of friction wheels 28 and 3! previously described, then all four horses will be caused to move along the track at exactly the same speed. It follows that if all of the horses start simultaneously, the operation of these mechanisms would cause them to finish simultaneously; or, in other words, to run a dead heat.

It will also be evident that if any one of the friction wheels is at a different distance from the center of its friction disk than the other, that'horse will move slower or faster than the Others, depending upon whether its friction wheel is nearer or farther away from the center of its friction disk.

To insure adequate contact between the friction disk on each synchronous motor shaft and the friction wheels engaging therewith, the friction disk is preferably slidably mounted upon the motor shaft and spring pressed against the friction wheels. For example, as shown in Figure 5, friction disk 29 is mounted on motor shaft 30a. so that it canmove longitudinally of the shaft and is forced against friction wheels 28 and 3! by a spring 3% of adequate strength to insure that the contact between the friction disk and the friction wheels will be suflicient to cause the disk to rotate the wheels without slippage. However, the pressure should not be so great as to offer serious resistance to the radial movement of the friction wheels across the face of the friction disk, as already described.

Since there may be a slight difference in diameter between the friction wheels 28 and 3!, it is also desirable that the mounting of the friction disk 29 upon its shaft 3611. be of such a nature that the friction disk may tilt slightly out of its normal plane of rotation so as to automatically contact with both friction wheels in spite of such difference. Such a mounting may take any one of several well-known forms, which it is not necessary to illustrate or describe. To insure adequate contact between the friction disk and the friction wheels, which for one reason or another is not automatically effected by the above arrangement, there are provided plungers 30c, one on each side of the motor shaft 39a and in the plane of the path of travel of friction wheels 28 and 3! radially across the friction disk. Normally, these are held out of contact with the friction disk 29, asshown in Figure 5, but, if needed, either one or both may be caused to press against the friction disk to supplement spring 301) in forcing the disk against the friction Wheels. This is accomplished by swinging plunger Silo around until the short cross-arm 38d is released from its rest 39c upon bracket 35f affixed to any suitable part of the device so that the end of the plunger can make contact with the friction disk under the urge of its light spring 399. If the contacting end 3th of plunger 380 is rounded, as shown, the friction between it and the rotating friction disk will not be so great as to affect the speed of rotation of the disk.

The electrical circuit for synchronous motors 30 and 4 as shown in Figure 8, may consist of a wire 45 leading from a source of current 46 to one side of each of the motors 30 and 44. The other side of each of these motors is connected to a wire 47, which runs to a series of switches equal in number to the number of horses, in this case, four, 48, 59, 50 and 5!, from the last of which, 5!, a wire 52 returns to the source of current 46.

Each of the switches d85i consists of a movable conducting arm 53 provided with a double contact 54, and two other contacts and 56, with which contact 54 is engageable. Contact 55 of each switch is connected by a wire 5530, to arm 53 of the following switch, with the exception of contact 55 of the last switch 5! which,

as already stated, is connected by a wire 52 to the source of current 36. Normally, contact 54 of each switch is in contact with the corresponding contact 56 of the same switch, so that there is, normally, a closed circuit through these switches. However, if contact 54 of any one of these switches is moved away from the correspending contact 55, the circuit will be opened at that switch. The switches 485l are, respectively, positioned on housing 3 adjacent the finish line of the track so that upon the arrival of a horse at the finish line, the corresponding switch arm 53 may be moved by the horse to separate contact 54 carried thereby from con-- tact 55, thereby breaking the synchronous motor circuit and causing all of the horses to stop immediately wherever they may be upon the track. For example, assuming that switches 48-5l are associated with horses 9-l2, respectively, in the order named, if horse 9 arrives at the finish line first, it will cause the motor circuit to be broken at switch 48.

This operation of each switch may be effected by providing switch arm 54 with an extension 5'! so positioned that it will be engaged by pin I 4 projecting downwardly from each horse just as the horse reaches the finish line.

The other contact 58 of each switch is so positioned that when the contact between contacts 54 and 55 is thus broken, contact will be made between contacts 54 and 58. Each of these contacts 58 is in series with a light 58 and also a battery 59, or other suitable source of electricity as shown in Figure 8. This circuit terminates at arm 53 of switch 48.

From the above it will be evident that if horse 9, for example, reaches the finish line first, breaking the connection between contacts 54 and 55 of switch 48 and causing contact 54 to engage with contact 55 of the same switch, not only will the circuit of the synchronous motors 38 and 35 be broken, but light 58 connected to contact 55 of switch 48 will be illuminated, which advises the players that the race is over and has been won by horse 9. Lights 58 may be contained within a housing positioned beyond the finish line, as shown in Figure l, and having four openings 5! in alinement with the four slots l5 through Which the illumination of each of the lights can be observed.

The synchronous motor circuit is also provided with a manually-operated switch 62. When this switch is closed the motors will begin to rotate and the horses to move. To indicate that this switch has been closed and the race started, a red light 63 may be connected across wires 45 and 52, the light being housed preferably in the starters stand 5, alongside the starting line of the track. If desired, an electric clock 84 may be similarly connected, by means of which the time of the race may be determined. Two additional lights 85 are also similarly connected across this circuit, but between the source of electricity and switch 52, for a purpose which will be hereinafter described.

As already generally explained, if any one of the friction wheels is at a different distance than the others from the center of its friction disk, the horse which is propelled by that particular friction wheel will move faster or slower than the others. Mechanism for thus changing the position of each friction wheel upon its friction disk is provided so that continual dead heats can be avoided and the race won by one or the other of the horses, although an occasional dead heat may be run by two or more of the horses, as in a real race.

In the form of game shown there are four of such mechanisms since there are four horses. They are identical, therefore a description of the means'for varying the speed of horses I 8 will suffice. This mechanism is shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. It consists of a small motor 66 adapted to rotate in either direction, upon the shaft 61 of which is a worm gear 88. This gear meshes with a pinion 89 upon a shaft 78, which also carries a small pinion H, which meshes with a rack 12 held in suitable guides so as to be parallel to shaft '24 and slidable longitudinally in a plane parallel to that of friction disk 29. Rack 12 is provided with a forked arm 18, which engages a collar 14 attached to frictional wheel 28 or to sleeve 25 upon which friction wheel 28 is mounted. By this mechanism if motor 66 is rotated in one direction, friction wheel 28 will be moved by rack 12 toward the center of friction disk 29 and the speed of horse l8 reduced, whereas, if the motor is rotated in the other direction, friction wheel 28 will be moved by rack 22 towards the edge of friction disk 29, and the speed of horse III will be increased.

The ultimate position of the friction wheel 28 depends upon the length of time motor 66 is permitted to rotate. The longer it rotates, the nearer friction wheeel 28 will be moved to the edge or the center of friction disk 29, and the greater will be the acceleration or slowing up in speed of horse I 8. Both the direction of rotation of motor 25 and the duration of this rotation is controlled by mechanism manipulated by the player of horse 10, who endeavors, naturally, to increase the speed of his horse as much as possible. Here, however, the element of chance enters in because his efforts to speed up his horse may result in causing it to go slower.

The mechanism operated by the player of horse N] for varying the position of friction wheel 28 with respect to the center of friction disk 29 through the operation of motor 86 (and which is duplicated for each of the other horses, I8, I l and I 2), consists of a sloping run-way 15 provided with a number of apertures 16, I1, 18 and 19, and 88, Bl, 82 and 83 (see Fig, 2) in any desired arrangement, guarded by a number of upwardly projecting pins 84 arranged in any desired pattern. This run-way is, preferably, enclosed within a housing 85 adjacent the track 4, and is preferably provided with a transparent top except at the outer end which is provided With an opening 86 of approximately the same size as that of apertures 18-83. The lower end of run-way '85 also terminates short of the end of housing 85, the width of the space 81 being approximately the same or greater than the diameter of the openings in the run-way.

Openings "lit-19 open into a chute 88 (Fig. 9) having an inclined bottom 88, the lower end 98 of which is open. A similar chute 9| is provided beneath openings 8083. Both of these chutes 88 and 9| may be enclosed in housing 85, the bottom of which is inclined towards end 92, where there is an opening 93.

Beneath each opening Hi-l8 is a trigger plate which normally obstructs it. These trigger plates are numbered 18a18a, corresponding with the respective openings 16-18. Each trigger plate is attached to a shaft Nb-18b, respectively, rotatably supported in and projecting through the sides of chute 88. To the respective ends of each shaft are attached two depending insulated switch arms 180-180 and 16d18d, respectively. Also mounted upon opposite sides of chute 88 are sets of fixed contacts mi-18f and Wit-18h, respectively, and spring contacts Hie-18c and mg-18g, respectively, adapted to engage the corresponding fixed contacts, but normally out of contact therewith. The spring contacts on each side of the enclosure are electrically connected together as are the corresponding fixed contacts, and each pair of fixed and spring contacts on the respective sides of the enclosure is connected in series with the respective sides of the circuit of motor 66; consequently, the circuit of motor 66 may be broken or closed on both sides simultaneously through these contacts on each side of the housing.

As shown in Figure 11, when trigger plates I6a'I9'a are in their normal position obstructing openings IE-18, switch arms 'I6c-'I8c and l6d.'l9d are so positioned that the contacts just described are open, whereas if a trigger plate is swung down (see plate 18a in Fig. 11), the corresponding switch arms will be swung also, as shown in Figs. 11 and 14, and, since these arms press upon the corresponding spring contacts upon the two sides of the enclosure, these contacts will be forced into engagement with the corresponding fixed contacts to close the circuit of motor 66, which engagement will be mainftained as long as the switch arms remain in the swung position.

To swing the switch arms back into normal position to effect the opening of the motor circuit, the open end 99 of chute 88 is provided with a swinging gate 94 suspended from shaft 95 by arms 96. To the gate 94 is pivotally attached a lever 91 provided with switching plates 98, one for each trigger plate. Each of these switch plates is provided with an opening or slot 99 and is so positioned that a pin I99 on each of switch arms I6c-l9c projects into the slot in the corresponding switching plate. The slot 99 is so positioned that when gate 94 is closed, as it normally is, and switch arms I6c'I9c are in their normal position, the pins will rest substantially against the left ends of slots 99, as shown in Fig. 9. This slot is of such a length that any of the switch arms can be swung to the right by its trigger plate to close the corresponding contacts, whereupon the pin I99 comes to rest substantially against the right end of slot 99, as shown in Fig. 14. Whenever gate 94 is swung open, the lever 91 will be pulled to the left, with the result that any switch arm which has been turning to the right will be swung to the left again into its normal position, as shown in Figure 15, and the corresponding contacts will be opened, breaking the circuit to the motor 66.

Motor 66 will rotate as long as the contacts 1 are closed. The longer motor 66 rotates, the

greater the displacement of friction wheel 28 will be from the position it occupied before motor 66 was energized.

As already stated, openings 89, 8I and 82 in runway I open into chute 9| similar to chute 88. This chute Si is equipped with a control mechanism for motor 96 similar to that just described, but its switch contacts are included in a circuit to motor 66 which will cause the motor to rotate in the opposite direction. For the purposes of this description, it will be assumed that the circuit controlled through openings I6, 11 and I8 will cause motor 66 to rotate so as to move friction wheels 28 outwardly and the circuit controlled through openings 89, 9| and 82 will cause it to rotate in the reverse direction to move friction wheel 28 inwardly.

These speed control devices described are operated by the player of horse I9. The player drops a ball I9I through opening 86 in the top of housing 85. The ball runs down the run-way I5, striking some of the pins 84 and possibly falling through opening I8, as shown in Fig. 11. It then strikes trigger plate 18a below this opening, tilting it, and, consequently, swinging switch arms 18c and 19d so that they cause the spring contacts 'I8e and 18g to engage with their respective fixed contacts 18 and 18h, as shown in Fig. 14. This closes both sides of the circuit to motor 66, which starts to rotate. The ball then falls into the bottom of chute 88 and rolls towards the open end 99 thereof. Upon reaching the end the ball strikes gate 94, swinging it outwardly, as shown in Fig. 15, so that the lever 91 is pulled to the left. This, as described above, will move switch arms 18c and 18d back into their neutral position, whereupon spring contacts 18c and 18g will separate from fixed contacts 18) and 18h and the rotation of motor 66 will cease. Therefore, the duration of rotation of motor 66 will be equal to the time which has elapsed between the falling of the ball from trigger plate 18a and its operation of gate 94. It follows that, since opening I8 in the runway is the nearest to gate 94, of the three openings I6, 11 and I8, the minimum duration of rotation of motor 66 has been secured, and consequently the minimum displacement outwardly of friction wheel 28, and the minimum acceleration of horse I9.

If another ball, dropped through opening 86 by the player, also happens to fall through opening I8, an additional acceleration of horse I9 of the same amount will result. If the ball happens to fall through opening 'I'I instead, acceleration of horse I9 will still result, but to a greater amount, since the distance traveled by the ball before striking gate 92 will be greater. The maximum acceleration results from the falling of the ball through opening II, from which leads the longest path to gate 94.

It may be that the ball will fail to enter any of the openings in the run-way, in which case it will ultimately fall through opening 8'! beyond the end of the run-way, and cause no change in the speed of horse l9.

If the ball should happen to fall through any one of the other series of openings 89, 8| or 82, the speed of horse I9 will be reduced, depending upon the distance of the opening from the gate 94 in the other chute 9|. Since it is quite impossible for the player to control the course of the ball once he has dropped it through opening 86, it is entirely a matter of chance whether he increases or decreases the speed of horse I9.

Obviously, if it should happen that horse I9 is accelerated several times in succession, friction wheel 28 might be carried completely off friction disk 29 by the repeated movement of rack I2 in one direction. To prevent this a circuit breaker I92 is provided in the circuit of motor 66 in the form of two contacts I93 and I94, normally in engagement with each other, but adapted to be separated whenever friction wheel 28 approaches the edge of friction disk 29. Projecting from sleeve 25 which carries friction wheel 28, is an insulated arm I95 which, as the friction wheel moves towards the edge of friction disk 29, approaches a finger I96 projecting from contact I03 of circuit breaker I92. Arm I95 is so positioned that shortly before friction wheel 28 would reach the edge of friction disk 29, it will engage finger I96, and, upon a slight additional outward movement of friction Wheel 28, separate contacts I93 and I94, breaking the circuit to motor 66. When this has occurred, the falling of a ball through one of the accelerating openings 16, 11 or 18, will have no effect upon the motor 66, friction wheel 28, or horse I0. However, if the ball falls through one of the openings 80, 8| or 82, thus closing the other circuit to motor 66, friction wheel 26 will be moved towards the center of friction disk 29 to a greater or less distance, and the control of motor circuit 66 by passage of a ball through an accelerating opening is reestablished. A similar circuit-breaker I61 operated by the same arm I65, or one similar thereto, is provided to limit the possible movement of friction wheel 28 towards the center of friction disk 29. It operates in the same way as circuitbreaker I62 described above, and consequently requires no further description here.

As stated, similar speed changing mechanisms are provided for each of the other horses II], Ii and I2. The run-ways of these are shown in Figure 2 at 15a, 15b and 15c, but the associated mechanisms are not shown since each of them is similar to that above described. It will be noted that the run-ways are so arranged that the four players can stand or sit adjacent to the corners of the game. Each is provided with a number of balls I6I, which he can drop into his particular run-way and which are returned to him as soon as they have passed through the mechanism, emerging from the opening 93, into the tray I33.

An electrical circuit for motor 66 is shown in Figure 8 in which the motor 66, fixed contacts Ice-43c and 'I6h'l8h, spring contacts we-13c and i6gl8g, and circuit-breaker I32, will be noted. Also shown are the equivalent contacts 83e82e, 8Ilf-32f, BB -82g and 86h-82h, which are controlled through openings 86-32, as described above, but not heretofore mentioned by number. The source of electrical energy is shown as a battery I69 from which a wire II6 leads to contacts 'I6e-l8e. Another wire III leads from contacts 'I6fi6f, through circuitbreaker I62 to motor 66. A wire IIZ runs from the other side of the battery I69 to contacts l6gl3g and a wire IE3 runs from contacts TGh-I'Gh to the other side of motor 66. As heretofore explained, this circuit serves to rotate motor in the direction required to move friction wheel 23 away from the center of friction disk 23. A similar circuit rotating motor 66 in the opposite direction is indicated by wires H4, H5, H6 and Ill, contacts 36e82e, BfiJf-BZ Beg-32g, Sim-82h. and circuit-breaker I61. The direction of current flow in each of these circuits is indicated by the arrows. Similar currents are provided for the other similar mechanisms for the other horses.

In order that all the contestants can start a race upon even terms, means is provided for establishing friction wheel 26, which drives horse i9, and the other three similar friction wheels, which drive horses Iii, I! and I2 at equivalent positions upon the synchronously-driven friction disks. For friction wheel 28, this device consists of an arm Ii? projecting from rack I2, and extending slightly below the underside of track 4. Directly above this arm is a glass-covered opening I I3 in the track normally covered by a hinged cover H9. For convenience this is positioned behind the starting position of horse It, as shown .in Figure 2, where it may be readily seen by the player of horse Iii. One of the lights 65 is positioned below arm It! so that a shadow of this arm will be thrown upon window IIB. Window H8 is provided with a cross-hair so positioned that when the shadow of arm II'I coincides with the cross-hair, friction wheel 28 will be positioned substantially midway between the center and edge of friction disk 29, which is the preferred arrangement for starting the race.

The shadow of arm I IT can be caused to coincide with the cross-hair by rotating motor 66 in one way or the other to operate the rack which carries arm II! and which also moves friction wheel 28. To make this adjustment, a manual switch lever I20 is provided positioned so that it can be conveniently operated by player II], as shown, for example, in Figure 2. Switch lever tilt passes through track 4 and is attached to a rock plate I2I beneath the track in such a way that rocking lever I26 forward and backward will also rock plate I2I. Beneath one end plate I2I are positioned two pairs of contacts I22, I23 and I24, I25; contact I22 is connected to wire II4 from battery I09 by wire I26; contact I23 is connected by wire I21 to wire H5 which runs to one side of motor 66. Contact I24 of the other pair of contacts connects with the other side of battery I09 through wire I28 and wire III. Contact I25 connects with the other side of motor 66 through wire I29 and wire H6; these two pairs of contacts, it will be noted, are on opposite sides of a circuit from battery I6 to the motor 66 and return. Also, these pairs of contacts are so arranged with respect to each other and to plate IEI that if the left-end (shown in Figure '7) of plate I2I is rocked downwardly by means of switch lever I26, both sides of the circuit'will be closed and current will flow therethrough as indicated by the arrows.

Similarly arranged beneath the other end of plate I2! are two similar pairs of contacts I30- I3I and I32--I33. Contact I36 is connected to battery I69, by wires I34 and H3. Its associated contact I3I is connected to one side of motor 66 by wires I35 and II3. Contact I32 is connected to the other side of motor 66 by wires H3 and I36. Associated contact I33 is connected to the other side of the battery by wires I31 and H2.

If plate IZI is rocked in the opposite direction contacts I30, I3! and I33 will be closed and a circuit completed to motor 66 in which current will how in the direction opposite to that of the circuit described above, to cause motor 66 to rotate in the opposite direction also. Therefore, by rocking plate I2I by means of lever I20, motor 66 may be made to rotate, first in one direction and then in the other, and friction wheel 28 to move inwardly and outwardly across friction disk 29, until the shadow of arm II'I coincides with the cross-hair on glass IIB. When this occurs, the mechanism controlling horse I0 is properly adjusted for the beginning of the race.

A similar switch arm controlling similar switches in similar circuits are provided for each of the other players so that each of them by causing the shadow of an arm similar to arm In to coincide with the cross-hair in a window similar to window H8, can position the friction wheel by means of which his horse is driven in exactly the equivalent position to that of friction wheel 28, so that at the start of the race all of the horses will move at exactly the same speed, which identical rate of movement will be maintained until increased or decreased through the operation of the speed-altering mechanism hereinbefore described, by the passage of a ball or balls through one or another of the openings in the run-ways.

Each horse may be positioned at the starting line simply by grasping it by the hand wherever upon the track it may be, and moving it to the starting position. As already explained, spring coupling of the belt by which the horse is moved is such as to permit this manual placement of each horse without otherwise disturbing the positive driving action of the belt.

The race is started by throwing switch 62, which starts the rotation of synchronous motors 30 and 44, at which time red light 6315 also illuminated. The race is ended when a horse reaches the finish line. This is indicated by the illumination of one of the lights 58 and the immediate stopping of all the horses by the opening of one of the switches 48-5I. Red light 63, however, continues to glow to indicate that the synchronous motor circuit is still otherwise closed, and that the motors will again resume rotation as soon as the winning horse is moved from its position at the finish line. Before the next race is begun, switch 52 will, in consequence, be opened so that the horses can be moved back and left standing at the starting line until the beginning of the next race. Before this race is begun the friction wheels will be adjusted as above explained by the operation of the switch lever I20 to readjust the speed altering mechanisms so that all the horses will start and move at the same speed until this condition is disturbed by the activities of the players.

In a modified form of this invention, the speed-varying motors, their associated mechanisms and circuits are omitted. The synchronous motor or motors and their circuits are retained and combined with constant and variable speed mechanisms, one for each horse. One of these, for controlling horse I0, is shown in Figures 16-19. The synchronous motor 30 is connected by gearing I38 and I39 to a shaft I40 to which are fixed three friction wheels I4I, I42 and I43 of different diameters. Another shaft I44 parallel to shaft I40 carries a sleeve I45 slidable upon, but turnable with, the shaft by means of a longitudinal slot I46 in which rides a pin I4! projecting from the shaft I44. On sleeve I45 are affixed three friction wheels I4I-I48-I49, complementary to and engageable with friction wheels I4I, I42 and I43 so as to provide three different turning ratios between shafts I40 and I44. For example, friction wheels I4! and MI may be of the same diameter so that when they are engaged, as shown in Figure 16, the two shafts will turn at the same speed. Friction wheel I49 may be one-half the diameter of friction wheel I42, so that when they are engaged shaft I 44 will turn twice as fast as shaft I40. Similarly, friction wheel I48 may be twice the diameter of friction wheel I43. Other ratios and a greater or less number of sets of friction wheels may be used of course.

Shaft I44 is provided with a pulley I50, which is connected to pulley 2| on shaft 20 by means of belt I5I. Since belt I6 passes around pulley I8 also on shaft 20 and is the driving belt for horse I0, motion can be imparted to horse I0 by synchronous motor 30, the rate of motion depending upon which pair of friction wheels is in engagement.

In the form of game shown it is assumed that the normal speed of horse I0 should be that obtained by the engagement of friction wheels MI and I41; therefore, the sliding friction wheels on shaft I44 are so arranged that normally these two friction wheels will be maintained in engagement. The means shown for effecting this consists of two springs I52 and I53 surrounding shaft I 44 and pressing against the respective ends of sleeve I45. These springs will normally maintain friction wheels MI and I4! in engagement, but will permit themv to be disengaged, and one or the other set of friction wheels engaged.

The means shown for shifting the friction wheels (see Figure 17) consists of a double-acting solenoid I54 having two opposed coils I55 and I56 and a common armature I51 to which is swingably attached a lever I58 pivoted to some suitable stationary support as at I 59, and engaging a collar I60 on sleeve I45. When coil I55 of the solenoid is energized, the lever I58 will be swung in one direction disengaging friction wheels MI and I4! and engaging friction wheels I42 and I 49 to eifect a speeding-up of shaft I44, and when the other coil I56 of the solenoid is energized, lever I58 will be swung in the other direction to engage friction Wheels I43 and I48, thereby effecting a reduction in the turning speed of shaft I44 to one-half that of shaft I40. When the current to the solenoid is cut off, spring I 52 or I53 automatically move sleeve I45 back to its normal position to cause the engagement of friction wheels MI and I41. In this way, the speed of horse I0 can be abruptly increased or decreased for the period during which .the solenoid is energized and may then be caused to resume its normal speed.

The energizing of solenoid I54 may be controlled by the player in the manner already described; that is to say, by dropping balls through opening 86 upon run-way I5, which balls, if they happen to drop through one or another of the apertures 16'I8 or -83 cause trigger plates "Eta-18a or 80a-83a to swing, thereby closing one or another of the pairs of contacts, positioned upon opposite sides of chutes 88 and 9|,

as previously described. These chutes and associated switching mechanisms remain unchanged with the exception that, preferably, the internal engagement of each chute is such that the belts will all travel the same distance, after falling through any one of the apertures in runway I5, and will cause one or another of the solenoids to remain energized for the same length of time. This will produce a definite gain or loss by horse I0, say one length, in its position with respect to the other horses. This is provided for by providing additional partitions IGI in each chute beneath the trigger plates, as shown in Figure 19, which will guide each base over an indirect path of the same length to the discharge end of the chute irrespective of which aperture it has dropped through.

The circuits for operating the modified speed control mechanisms just described are shown in Figure 18. They are substantially identical with the two outside circuits of Fig. '7, heretofore described, and have been given the same reference numerals. The only differences are that one circuit includes coil I55 of the solenoid I54 and the other circuit includes coil I56 of the solenoid instead of both running to a motor 66 and also circuit-breakers I02 and I0? are omitted, since they are not needed. The same sets of contacts Hie-48c, "if-18f, mg-1 8g, Sh-78h are in one circuit, and the other sets Ste-83c, 80f-83f, 8dg--83g and 80h83h are in the other circuit.

Each of the other horses 9, I I and I2 are associated with a similar mechanism and circuit. Ifdesired, all of these may beoperated from a single synchronous motor 30 .by connecting them to the motor shaft by gears similar to I48, I49,- or two identical motors may be used, one for a pair of horses, or individual motors for each horse.

Since normally friction wheels HH and I4! of each mechanism are in engagement, no preliminary adjustment before a race is started is required beyond positioning the horses at the starting line. When switch 62 is closed, they will all move at the same speed until this condition is upset by the falling of a ball through one of the apertures in a run-way resulting in the energizing of one of the solenoid coils and in the abrupt doubling or halving of the speed of the corresponding horse.

When the ball emerges from its chute, thereby breakin the circuit, the horse will again resume its normal speed.

In both forms of the game described it will be noted that all of the horses move continually, but are subject to alterations in speed brought about by the players. In the first such alterations in speed are maintained until the player causes another alteration. In the second form the alteration continues only for a short time, whereupon the horse resumes its normal speed.

Although the several sets of contacts which effect such speed changes have been shown in a definite arrangement, it will be evident that any pair of either set may be shifted to the other circuit at any time so that it can be made impossible for any player to work out reliably the results to be expected from the passage of a ball through any particular aperture.

It will be evident also that various changes in construction and mechanical arrangement are possible and even the use of other apparatus.

We claim:

1. A racing game which includes a race course, a plurality of racers movable over said course, driving means including a rotatable friction disk, means connecting said driving means and said racers adapted to move said racers continuously along said course at the same speed which includes a friction wheel for each racer engaging with said disk so as to be rotatable thereby, means for adjusting said friction wheel with respect to said disk so as to increase or reduce the speed of rotation of said wheel with respect to that of said disk, means controlled by chance for operating said adjusting means, manually-operated means for initiating the action of said operating means, and connecting means between said disk and said racer for moving said racer over said course at a speed determined by the adjustment of said disk.-

2. A racing game which includes a race course, a plurality of racers movable over said course, means for moving each racer over said course consisting of two groups of friction wheels, each wheel of one group being engageable with a different wheel of the other group, means for rotating the friction wheels of one group at a substantially constant speed, means controlled by adjusting said connecting means so as to increase or reduce, as determined by chance, the speed of eachracer with respect to said constant speed independently of the other racers without affecting the speed of said driving means, and manually-actuated means for operating said speedvarying means.

4. A racing game which includes a race course, a plurality of racers movable over said course, driving means operable at an unvarying speed, means connecting said driving means and said racers adapted to move all said racers continuously along said course at the same speed, and manually-actuated means foradjusting said connecting means so as to increase or reduce, as determined by chance, the speed of each racer with respect to said same speed independently of the other racers without afiecting the speed of said driving means and to then automatically return said racer to its previous speed.

5. A racing game which includes a race course, a plurality of racers movable over said course, driving means operable at an unvarying speed, means connecting said driving means and said racers adapted to move said racers continuously along said course at the same and a constant speed, means for adjusting said connecting means so as to increase or reduce, as determined by chance, the speed of each racer with respect to said constant speed independently of the other racers without affecting the speed of said driving means, and manually-operated means for initiating the action of said speed-varying means.

6. A racing game which includes a race course, a plurality of racers movable over said course, driving means operable at an unvarying speed, means connecting said driving means and said racers adapted to move said racers continuously along said course at the same and a constant 7 speed, means for'adjusting said connecting means so as to increase or reduce, as determined by chance, the speed of each racer with respect to said constant speed independently of the other racers without affecting the speed of said driving means, and manually-operated means for initiating the action of said speed-varying means without controlling its speed-changing efi'ect.

PETER GARMS. PRESTON S. MILLAR. 

